Pleasure Yourself With Podcasts

January 14, 2008

Do you run into the same problem I do? I want to share the bloggy love with my friends and family, but lots of people are incapable of locating blogs and reading them, or just don’t have the time. (Hell, I know people who still haven’t discovered email, but that’s a whole nother topic).

However, almost everyone has access to an iPod and is familiar with the book on tape concept. When the two unite (by civil union, holy matrimony or just shacking up) the result is a PODCAST: a recorded version of some of my popular posts or me just freewheeling on the microphone. (Bill thinks this is a bad idea.)

But Lord, do I ever have big plans for this new medium! I’m happy to record my old stories, and that could eat up lots of time. But sometimes I encounter unbelievable tales of injustice or engage in frolicking hijinks and I never have time to write them up properly. It wouldn’t take me any time at all to record them and post them as mini radio spots. After all, I’ve only been working on setting up this whole podcast thing since October.

Also, I am always getting questions from you all in my email, and I’ll intend to answer them, but then a boy will fillet himself with a fish knife or another will start talking like he’s been raised in the ‘hood, and I’ll put it off.

A podcast would be just the place to tackle specific topics, and you could listen to them on your own schedule.

Here’s one proposed topic:

“Is it acceptable for a suburban white boy who’s just been picked up from his elementary school by his minivan-driving mother to answer the query, “How was school today?” with the response, “It was pimpin’, yo.”??”

or

“What are YOUR New Year’s Resolutions, if any, Anne Glamore?”

And, I have emails festering in my inbox wanting to know what books I read when I was expecting (I wonder if they’re still in print?) and whether I have any child-rearing books to recommend. I may be short on tits, but I’m long on opinions, so I have a little sumpin’ sumpin’ to say about all this, as well as my secret formula for butt rash and secret recipe for what to stick in the bottle to get the baby to sleep another 5 seconds. (No, it’s not gin.)

Please, feel free to submit other podcast ideas to my email: anneglamoreATgmailDOTcom. How about if you put “podcast idea” in the subject line to help me stay organized??

The ideas are the easy part– let’s talk about the dynamics of listening to the podcasts so you can test it out for yourself.

1) Some of you are lucky enough to be able to see the gray player on my left sidebar. (Hopefully all of you will fit in this category soon.) Choose a story by clicking on it and press the “play” button. You’ll hear me telling that story over the computer! Zowie!

2) Another option is to go to my podcast blog and click on the thing that says “POD” and the broadcast will start playing on your computer. See how each story has a picture of the Anne Glamore you know and love, like this:

That means it’s me re-telling a previously posted Tale.

But when I go off on something new, more along the lines of a radio show, I’m going to use a picture that shows me in podcasting mode, like

or maybe if something really exciting is happening that causes me to shout and my eyes to glow red.

I’ve submitted these to iTunes and when they’re approved I’ll let you know how to find them. You’ll be able to subscribe to the podcasts and automatically get updates.

So y’all, do me a favor. Let me know if you can see the gray player or not, and whether it works. Let me know what browser you’re using, too. (IE, Firefox, etc). Also, if you’d test the link to the pod blog and see how that goes, I’d be much obliged. Better to get all the bugs out on the front end, right? You can leave comments about the pod blog over there, OR SO IT SAYS.

The Kingdom on podcast? By an amazing coincidence, that’s just what I asked Santa for this year! That dude’s still hanging around after all. 😉 Very fun! (By the way, your voice sounds just like my Aunt Jan…but don’t worry, that’s a good thing.)

Suzie

Ok, I don’t know if I am doing it wrong or something, but I can see the little player. I can click on the play button, etc…. But I can’t choose a podcast or hear anything. I am using Internet Explorer 6.0.

Grey box, check.
Sound, check.
Good luck and have fun! I’m not sure that I would want my own voice out there, personally. I have “I sound awful on tape” problems. I do sing at church, though. I guess it’s a good thing they don’t tape worship!

Karin

Amy Valentine

I am at work (with some substantial firewalls) and can see the gray player just fine and it works beautifully. (Thank goodness I have earphones & not just speakers!) We still have Internet Explorer 6.0. I am guessing if it works here it will also work at home on charter, but I will check. Great stories!!

Works fine for me – on Netscape 9.0 I’m glad to see someone else reporting it works on Safari, because that’s my usual (once my Mac is finally fixed). And once the Mac’s back, I’ll look forward to downloading the podcasts!

Kathy

Kim

Hi Anne! I listened on Firefox and all is well. Your voice cracks me up – it’s SO not how I thought you would sound! I mean, hello, I realize you’re Southern, but I thought your voice would sound deeper or something. It’s just like when you only talk to someone on the phone, you envision what they look like (and you’re usually wrong there too!)

I just kept thinking of you doing a closing argument when I was listening! I’m going to enjoy listening while I iron, multitasking at its best… and you definitely sound like you’re ready for NPR! =)

Fiona

Congrats on the podcast! I can see the gray video thingie, but I won’t be listening cause I’d just hear gibberish – my hearing apparatus (as in my ears) no workie properly! Happily, you’ll still be writing to the blog (right?!).

Thank God You Made It!

You found it – the Tales From My Tiny Kingdom web site. All our old adventures are here; you can check the “Columns Y’all Love” below and the Archives underneath “Categories” to find them. I’m writing new columns, so you’ll get more about parenting (boys, specifically), traveling, empty nesting (!!) and much more. Welcome back…